Oklahoma's State Technology Leader Leaving For Oregon

Oklahoma's first chief information officer who helped lead a consolidation of the state's computer and information technology systems is leaving to take a similar post in Oregon.

Alex Pettit

Credit State of Oklahoma

Gov. Mary Fallin announced Thursday that Oklahoma's CIO Alex Pettit will leave his post on Jan. 4. Pettit was appointed by former Democratic Gov. Brad Henry in 2010 after the Legislature passed a law authorizing the position to oversee Oklahoma'sinformation and technology operations.

Fallin says Oklahoma's IT service was an "eight-track player in an iPod world" when Pettit was hired, with several different incompatible email and operating systems among various state agencies.

The IT consolidation effort has been a priority for Fallin and Republican legislative leaders as a way to save money for the state.